The NBA on Thursday afternoon announced a plan to begin blood testing for human growth hormone during the 2015-16 season. Players will be selected to take three unannounced tests throughout the course of the year, with two tests coming in-season and the third coming in the offseason.
NBA to begin blood testing for HGH next season
It’s the first time the league has ever done blood testing.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
A first positive test will result in a 20-game suspension. A second violation will get you a 45-game suspension. If a player tests positive three times, they will be banned from the NBA. This is the first time the league has ever done blood testing.
An agreement to test for HGH was hatched during the collective bargaining sessions during the 2011 league lockout.
The NBA is rarely thought to have a performance enhancing drug problem on par with professional baseball and football, but there have been suspensions in the past for using banned substances. Rashard Lewis was suspended 10 games in 2009 for a positive PED test, while Hedo Turkoglu was suspended 20 games for a positive PED test in 2013.
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